Chestermere Gives Back Community Block Party was held at John Peake Park between the hours of 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm on Saturday to celebrate the end of summer so, if you stayed at home all week and didn’t see the signs, we’re sorry, but you missed out on the fun. Live entertainment featured electronic music producer Jaimie Stewart and door prizes included a $250 Ticketmaster gift card.
Several tents and booths were set up on the grass including Synergy, the Chestermere Therapy Dogs Society, and the Chestermere Public Library. Carnival games were set up for the kids: penguin fish fling, alien invasion, slap shot, balloon animals, and the in the center of the festivities was a scattered pile of hula hoops. I was personally impressed by how long the hula hoop demonstrator was able to keep the hoops twirling, so kudos to that patient, skilled individual.
The Chestermere Public Library had an excellent little fishing hole set up at their table. Small cardboard fish with magnets attached to their mouths ‘swam’ around in the bottom of the inflatable pond and, using special fishing poles, the kids hooked the fish. Each fish had a book name or prize written on it and whichever fish they hooked, that’s what they won.
Many people and their kids showed up for the party but, as the name implied, it was an end of summer bash so there was a bit of a chilly breeze battling against the warmth of the setting sun, forcing many of the families to pack up their things and retreat to the warmth of their homes. But, even though it was chilly, the ice cream truck still managed to drum up a brisk little business. Perhaps next year a hot goodies truck or a barbecue could be set up to offset the end of summer chilliness.
This chilliness was certainly not a plus for Deputy Mayor Christopher Steeves and MLA Bruce McAllister, two public figures of Chestermere who were nominated by the Chestermere Anchor to fulfill the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Everyone who hadn’t already left gathered around to watch this very chilly but fun spectacle.
All in all, Chestermere succeeded in giving back to the community and a hearty thank you to all the volunteers who put in the time and effort to put this party together.
